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Shloka 16

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

अकारणविष्कृतकोपधारिणः खलाद्भयं कस्य न नाम जायते / विषं महाहेर्विषमस्य दुर्वचः सदुः सहं सन्निपतेत्सदा मुखे

Transliteration

akāraṇaviṣkṛtakopadhāriṇaḥ khalādbhayaṃ kasya na nāma jāyate / viṣaṃ mahāherviṣamasya durvacaḥ saduḥ sahaṃ sannipatetsadā mukhe

Translation

谁不畏惧那无故怀怒的恶人？大蛇之毒固然可怖，然奸曲之人的恶言更难忍受——它一次又一次直击人面。

Word by Word
अ-कारण-विष्कृत-कोप-धारिणःof those who bear anger displayed without cause
अ-कारण-विष्कृत-कोप-धारिणः:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootअ (नञ्) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि + √कृ + क्त) + कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ + णिनि)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष-समूह (अकारणं विष्कृतः कोपः येषां ते)
खलात्from a wicked person
खलात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootखल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन
भयम्fear
भयम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
कस्यof whom
कस्य:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध
नामindeed/at all
नाम:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाम (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)
जायतेarises/is born
जायते:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√जन् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
विषम्poison
विषम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अत्र प्रथमा—विषयः)
महाहेःof a great serpent
महाहेः:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootमहाहि (प्रातिपदिक; महा + अहि)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् अहिः)
विषमस्यof the uneven/difficult (one)
विषमस्य:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootविषम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन
दुर्वचःharsh speech
दुर्वचः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (दुष्टं वचः)
स-दुः-सहम्hard to endure
स-दुः-सहम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootस (उपसर्ग) + दुः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + सह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दुःखेन सह/दुःसहं)
सन्निपतेत्should fall/should come upon
सन्निपतेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + नि + √पत् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
सदाalways
सदा:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण
मुखेin the mouth
मुखे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: अकारण-कोप and दुर्वचः are more damaging than physical विष; verbal cruelty repeatedly wounds and destabilizes समाज-धर्म.

Vedantic Theme: Ahimsa in speech; mind’s rajas-tamas manifests as anger and harsh words; purification through restraint (dama) and satya-priya-vākya.

Application: Practice anger management and compassionate speech; avoid people who erupt without cause; build communication norms that prevent repeated verbal harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: social/ethical arena (interpersonal)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti/dharma verses on anger (krodha), दुर्वचन, and दुर्जन-परिहार

FAQs

This verse elevates speech-ethics as a core part of dharma, warning that cruel words from the wicked can be more damaging and persistent than physical dangers like poison.

By condemning causeless anger and harsh speech, it implies that such conduct is adharma and a seed for negative karmic outcomes, urging self-restraint and discernment in company.

Avoid reactive anger, limit association with abusive or manipulative people, and practice truthful, measured speech—especially when provoked.

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